HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2023 Owner's Guide

Vehicle Information, Consumer Information and Reporting Safety Defects2-18
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or
could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-
327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153);
go to http://www.safercar.gov;
download the SaferCar mobile application;
or write to: Administrator, NHTSA 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE,
West Building Washington, D.C. 20590.
You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from
http://www.safercar.gov.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it
finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and
remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual
problems between you, your dealer, or HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA.
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS

3
3. Seats & Safety System
Important safety precautions ........................................................................\
...3-2Always wear your seat belt ........................................................................\
.................. 3-2
Restrain all children ........................................................................\
.............................. 3-2
Air bag hazards ........................................................................\
..................................... 3-2
Driver distraction ........................................................................\
.................................. 3-2
Control your speed ........................................................................\
............................... 3-2
Keep your vehicle in safe condition ........................................................................\
.... 3-2
Seats .....................................................................\
............................................. 3-3Safety precautions ........................................................................\
...............................3-4
Front seats ........................................................................\
............................................ 3-5
Rear seats ........................................................................\
........................................... 3-10
Head Restraints ........................................................................\
.................................. 3-14
Seat warmers ........................................................................\
...................................... 3-18
Air ventilation seat........................................................................\
..............................3-20 Rear Occupant Alert (ROA) ........................................................................\
.................3-21
Seat belts ........................................................................\
................................. 3-23
Seat belt safety precautions ........................................................................\
.............. 3-23
Seat belt warning light ........................................................................\
....................... 3-24
Seat belt restraint system ........................................................................\
.................. 3-25
Additional seat belt safety precautions .....................................................................3-31
Care of seat belts........................................................................\
................................ 3-33
Child Restraint System (CRS) ........................................................................\
. 3-34Children Always in the Rear ........................................................................\
...............3-34
Selecting a Child Restraint System (CRS) ................................................................. 3-35
Installing a Child Restraint System (CRS) ................................................................. 3-37
Air bag - supplemental restraint system ....................................................... 3-45Where are the air bags? ........................................................................\
..................... 3-47
How does the air bags system operate? .................................................................. 3-50
What to expect after an air bag inflates ...................................................................3-53
Occupant Classification System (OCS) .....................................................................3-54
Why didn’t my air bag go off in a collision? ............................................................. 3-60
SRS care ........................................................................\
..............................................3-65
Additional safety precautions...............................................................\
.................... 3-66
Air bag warning labels...........................................................\
.................................... 3-66
This chapter provides you with important information about how to protect yourself and your
passengers. It explains how to properly use your seats and seat belts, and how your air bags work.
Additionally, this chapter explains how to properly restrain infants and children in your vehicle.

Seats & Safety System3-2
You will find many safety precautions
and recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
The safety precautions in this section are
among the most important.
Always wear your seat belt
A seat belt is your best protection in all
types of accidents. Air bags are designed
to supplement seat belts, not replace
them. So even though your vehicle is
equipped with air bags, ALWAYS make
sure you and your passengers wear your
seat belts, and wear them properly.
Restrain all children
All children under age 13 should ride
in your vehicle properly restrained in a
rear seat, not the front seat. Infants and
small children should be restrained in
an appropriate Child Restraint System.
Larger children should use a booster
seat with the lap/shoulder belt until they
can use the seat belt properly without a
booster seat.
Air bag hazards
While air bags can save lives, they can
also cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them, or
who are not properly restrained. Infants,
young children, and short adults are at
the greatest risk of being injured by an
inflating air bag. Follow all instructions
and warnings in this manual.
Driver distraction
Driver distraction presents a serious and
potentially deadly danger, especially for
inexperienced drivers. Safety should be
the first concern when behind the wheel
and drivers need to be aware of the wide
array of potential distractions, such as
drowsiness, reaching for objects, eating,
personal grooming, other passengers,
and using mobile phones. Drivers can become distracted when
they take their eyes and attention off
the road or their hands off the wheel to
focus on activities other than driving.
To reduce your risk of distraction and an
accident:

[
ALWAYS set up your mobile devices
(for example, MP3 players, phones,
navigation units, etc.) when your
vehicle is parked or safely stopped.

[ ONLY use your mobile device when
allowed by laws and conditions permit
safe use. NEVER text or email while
driving. Most countries have laws
prohibiting drivers from texting. Some
countries and cities also prohibit
drivers from using handheld phones.

[ NEVER let the use of a mobile device
distract you from driving. You have a
responsibility to your passengers and
others on the road to always drive
safely, with your hands on the wheel
as well as your eyes and attention on
the road.
Control your speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in crash
injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher
the speed, the greater the risk, but
serious injuries can also occur at lower
speeds. Never drive faster than is safe
for current conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Keep your vehicle in safe
condition
Having a tire blowout or a mechanical
failure can be extremely hazardous. To
reduce the possibility of such problems,
check your tire pressures and condition
frequently, and perform all regularly
scheduled maintenance.
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

3-3
03
Front seat
(1) Forward and rearward
(2) Seatback angle
(3) Seat cushion angle
(4) Seat cushion height
(5) Seat cushion length*
(6) Lumbar support (Driver’s seat)*
(7) Seat warmer*
(8) Air ventilation seat*
(9) Head restraints2nd row seat
(10) Seatback angle
(11) Head restraints
(12) Seat warmer*
(13) 2nd row seat remote folding switch*
*: if equipped
SEATS
The information provided may differ depending on which functions are applicable to your vehicle.
OTMA030001

Seats & Safety System3-4
Safety precautions
Adjusting the seats so that you are sitting
in a safe and comfortable position plays
an important role for the safety of the
driver and passengers, along with seat
belts and air bags when in an accident.
WARNING
Do not use a cushion that reduces
friction between the seat and the
passenger. The passenger’s hips may
slide under the lap portion of the seat
belt during an accident or a sudden
stop.
Serious or fatal internal injuries could
result because the seat belt cannot
operate properly.
Air bags
You can take steps to reduce the risk
of being injured by an inflating air bag.
Sitting too close to an air bag greatly
increases the risk of injury in the event
the air bag inflates.
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) recommends
that drivers allow at least 10 inches
(25cm) between the center of the
steering wheel and their chest.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury or
death from an inflating air bag, take the
following precautions:

[ Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the
rear as possible while maintaining
the ability to control the vehicle.

[ Adjust the front passenger seat as far
to the rear as possible.

[ Hold the steering wheel by the rim
with your hands at the 9 o’clock and
3 o’clock positions to minimize the
risk of injuries to your hands and
arms.

[ NEVER place anything or anyone
between you and the air bag.

[ Do not allow the front passenger to
place feet or legs on the dashboard
to minimize the risk of leg injuries.
Seat belts
Always fasten your seat belt before
starting any trip. At all times, passengers
should sit upright and be properly
restrained. Infants and small children
must be restrained in appropriate Child
Restraint Systems. Children who have
outgrown a booster seat and adults must
be restrained using the seat belts.
WARNING
Take the following precautions when
adjusting your seat belt:

[NEVER use one seat belt for more
than one occupant.

[ Always position the seatback upright
with the lap portion of the seat belt
snug and low across the hips.

[ NEVER allow children or small infants
to ride on a passenger’s lap.

[ Do not route the seat belt across your
neck, across sharp edges, or reroute
the shoulder strap away from your
body.

[ Do not allow the seat belt to become
caught or jammed.

03
3-5
Front seats
WARNING
Take the following precautions when
adjusting your seat:

[NEVER attempt to adjust the seat
while the vehicle is moving. The seat
could respond with unexpected
movement and may cause loss
of vehicle control resulting in an
accident.

[ Do not place anything under the
front seats. Loose objects in the
driver’s foot area could interfere
with the operation of the foot pedals,
causing an accident.

[ Do not allow anything to interfere
with the normal position and proper
locking of the seatback.

[ Do not place a cigarette lighter on
the floor or seat. When you operate
the seat, gas may exit out of the
lighter causing a fire.

[ Use extreme caution when picking
up small objects trapped under the
seats or between the seat and the
center console. Your hands might be
cut or injured by the sharp edges of
the seat mechanism.

[ If there are occupants in the rear
seats, be careful while adjusting the
front seat position.

[ Make sure that the seat is locked in
place after the adjustment. If not,
the seat might move unexpectedly
resulting in an accident.
CAUTION
To prevent injury:

[Do not adjust your seat while
wearing your seat belt. Moving the
seat cushion forward may cause
strong pressure on your abdomen.

[ Do not allow your hands or fingers to
get caught in the seat mechanisms
while the seat is moving.

Seats & Safety System3-6
Manual adjustment
The front seat can be adjusted by using
the levers located on the outside of
the seat cushion. Before driving, adjust
the seat to the proper position so that
you can easily control the steering
wheel, foot pedals and controls on the
instrument panel.
OTM030038
Forward and rearward adjustment
To move the seat forward or rearward:
1.
Pull up the seat slide adjustment lever
and hold it.
2. Slide the seat to the position you desire.
3. Release the lever and make sure the seat is locked in place. Move forward
and rearward without using the lever.
If the seat moves, it is not locked
properly.
OTM030039
Seatback angle
To recline the seatback:
1.

Lean forward slightly and lift up the
seatback lever.
2. Carefully lean back on the seat and adjust the seatback to the position
you desire.
3. Release the knob and make sure the seatback is locked in place.
Reclining seatback
Sitting in a reclined position when the
v
ehicle is in motion can be dangerous.
Even when buckled up, the protections
of your restraint system (seat belts
and/or air bags) is greatly reduced by
reclining your seatback.
WARNING
NEVER ride with a reclined seatback
when the vehicle is moving.
Riding with a reclined seatback
increases your chance of serious or fatal
injuries in the event of a collision or
sudden stop.
Drivers and passengers should ALWAYS
sit well back in their seats, properly
belted, and with the seatbacks upright.

03
3-7
Seat belts must be snug against your
hips and chest to work properly. When
the seatback is reclined, the shoulder
belt cannot do its job because it will not
be snug against your chest. Instead,
it will be in front of you. During an
accident, you could be thrown into the
seat belt, causing neck or other injuries.
The more the seatback is reclined,
the greater chance the passenger’s
hips will slide under the lap belt or the
passenger’s neck will strike the shoulder
belt.
OTM030040
Seat cushion height
To change the height of the seat cushion:

[Push do

wn the lever several times, to
lower the seat cushion.

[ Pull up the lever several times, to raise
the seat cushion.
Power adjustment (if equipped)
The front seat can be adjusted by using
the control switches located on the
outside of the seat cushion. Before
driving, adjust the seat to the proper
position so that you can easily control
the steering wheel, foot pedals and
controls on the instrument panel.
WARNING
NEVER allow children in the vehicle
unattended. The power seats are
operable when the vehicle is turned off.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the seats:

[Always stop adjusting the seats when
the seat has been adjusted as far
forward or rearward as possible.

[ Do not adjust the seats longer than
necessary when the vehicle is turned
off. This may result in unnecessary
battery drain.

[ Do not operate two or more seats at
the same time. This may result in an
electrical malfunction.

Seats & Safety System3-8
OTM030047
Forward and rearward adjustment
To move the seat forward or rearward:
1.
Push the control switch forward or
rearward.
2. Release the switch once the seat reaches the desired position.
OTM030050
Seatback angle
To recline the seatback:
1.

Push the control switch forward or
rearward.
2. Release the switch once the seatback reaches the desired position.
Reclining seatback
Sitting in a reclined position when the
vehicle is in motion can be dangerous.
Even when buckled up, the protections
of your restraint system (seat belts and
air bags) is greatly reduced by reclining
your seatback.
WARNING
NEVER ride with a reclined seatback
when the vehicle is moving.
Riding with a reclined seatback
increases your chance of serious or fatal
injuries in the event of a collision or
sudden stop.
Driver and passengers should ALWAYS
sit well back in their seats, properly
belted, and with the seatbacks upright.

03
3-9
Seat belts must be snug against your
hips and chest to work properly. When
the seatback is reclined, the shoulder
belt cannot do its job because it will not
be snug against your chest. Instead,
it will be in front of you. During an
accident, you could be thrown into the
seat belt, causing neck or other injuries.
The more the seatback is reclined,
the greater chance the passenger’s
hips will slide under the lap belt or the
passenger’s neck will strike the shoulder
belt.
OTM030054
Seat cushion tilt (1)
To change the angle of the front part of
the sea
t cushion:
Push the front portion of the control
switch up to raise or down to lower the
front part of the seat cushion.
Release the switch once the seat reaches
the desired position.
Seat cushion height (2)
To change the height of the seat cushion:
Push the r
ear portion of the control
switch up to raise or down to lower the
height of the seat cushion.
Release the switch once the seat reaches
the desired position.
Seat cushion extension adjustment
(for driver's seat) (if equipped)
OTM030045
To move the front part of cushion
forward:
1. Push the front part of control switch to move the seat cushion to the
desired length.
2. Release the switch once the seat cushion reaches the desired length.
To move the front part of cushion
rearward:
1. Push the rear part of control switch to move the seat cushion to the desired
length.
2. Release the switch once the seat cushion reaches the desired length.